Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-04-10
WHITE FLOWER;
OR,
THE COMANCHE'S DREAM.
A Romance of Savage ChiValry and
Texan VaIor in the Days
Of Slavery.
BY the Late COL. e. z. @. JUDsoN


rights reserved
CHAPTER X.
"Hurrah for Jack Malerson-hurrah
for the best man that ever packed deck
O. cards, cut a throat or winged cop
peri"
"Hurrah-hurrah-th cheers for our
bully captsin!"
The one who first spoke was the lieut.
enant of gang of gamblers, thieves and
cut-throats, who nailed Jack Malerson as
their captain, and those who with wild
hurrahs echoed his words were the mem
beers of the gang, who were assembled to
welcome their leader back from what he
termed pleasure trip 10 the country.
"Thank you, my lads-thank you
heartily. Though I've been eff on private
account this time I've brought back
enough to treat with" And he tossed
down 8 handful of gold on the table.
<'Call in the drink, bOys-callin the drink.
Make yourselves as Jolly as drunken
gang of tailors till | come back. Pve an
errand that'l take me an hour or so, and
then I'll drink with you to your hearts
content"
The place where these men were as
semDled was one of the few low and
the pretty and enterprising city of Gal
weston.
In a very pretty cottage, within sound
of the pleasant dash of the breakers
which rolled snowily over the outer bar
and in upon the white beach, sat female
whose age could not be much in advance
OF twenty years. Her hair was BROW,
rich and glossy-her complexion so fair
that fTeckle here and there could be
seen amid the red and white of her cheek
and brOw-her eyes of a melting blue,
her lips full and entiCing, her form rather
slender, but exquisite and vOlUptuOus.
Books, magazines and music lay upon
the center table, and g guitar rested
against a chair within reach of the lady.
She appeared TO be in a sleepy, dreamy
humOr, for she leaned back in an easy
chair beside the table, with ner round
chin resting on the palm of her little
white hand, her small, slippeTed feet ele
waited upon a veIvet-cOveIed stool and
her eyes half Closed.
Startled - q rather heavy knock at the
door, the color flew 10 her cheek and she
Lalf rose as she said: "COme in"
TIE person VINO entered was none
ether than our new acquaintance, Jack
Marleson. That he was a stranger to the
lady was very evident from the look of
wonder, not unmiXed with alarm. with
which she received him.
"This is Miss Ada McAlpIn, 1 believe"
said he.
"That is my name sir" she replied.
"MY name is Jack Malerson, father to
Paul. You know him well enough" said
he, taking g seat, COOIly, without waiting
to be asked.
81 have met Mr.. Paul Malerson, but he
never spoke to me of his father!" said
the young beauty, looking rather dis
trustfully at the rOugh-loOking customer.
Didn't he! Why, the undutiful dog!
But l must forgive him-he's my pre-
cious' only. He sent you down this ring;
It's a sparkler, isn't it?' said MalersoD,
handing her a large and very handsome
diamond ring.
"When and where did you see him,
sir" asked the lady, taking the ring and
looking at it with glance of undisguised
pleasure.
al was up at his uncle's plantation to
see him. Fine old uncle that-rich as
CG9sus-but he's got a very pretty
daughter, and I'm afeard they're setting
traps to get Paul to marry her"
"They never shalI-he is mine-mine!"
said the young lady, passionately, rising
to her feet, and guiVering all over with
excitement.
"NOr with my consent; for you are
girl of spirit aud worth a dozen of her
like you," said MalersOn.
"Wiu you watch over this matter for
me? l love Paul Malerson, and he has
said that he loved me-" said she, in win
ming way. And she advanced to put her
fl hand into his rough palm, and looked
into his eyes with such beseeChing look
that his bold gaze sOttened beneath it like
ice in the sunlight.
''I will, Ada. for 1 like yon, though
neve- before laid eyes on you"
"Thank you," said she. "Wiu you
have some wine?" And she rang bell
for q servant.
al like brandy better-wine will do for
gentler folks thanI; butt been brought
up in rough way st sea, and am rough
customer"
'The finest diamons are found in the
toughest coats" she said. And again the
sunlight of her smiles fell upon the rude
shell Of his harsh nature.
81 don't wonder that Paul fell in love
with YOU" he said. you've got very
ChpIlNdkAH way VI 9OuA O"A'
The servant now came in, and the lady
ordered such refreshments as she judged
would best suit Mr.. Jack MaIerson, or
Captain Jack, as he liked to be termed.
And among these he made himself free
ly and perfectly st home, only pausing
now and then to bestow praise upon them
or upon his beautiful hostess.
CHAPTER XI.
On the day succeeding the attack upon
La Bolsa de Flores, Major Ben and his
rangers followed the trail of the retreat
ing red men, but they had got beyond his
reach, carrying away their dead and
wounded, and also large number of Mr..
Delorme's best horses. The damage
which they had inflicted upon the planter
was very great, but such, however, as he
could easily repair with the immense
means at his command.
Although Mrs. Delorme begged him TO
remove from position so dangerous, he
stubbornly refused, for in all Texas could |
not be found richer land or a more lovely |
situation. And as new settlers would |
inevitably gather around him in the |
course of time the value of his property |
would increase with years. And Mr.. !
Delorme was q stern and resolute man,
strong in his hate and his lOVe-poWerful |
in all his preiudices.
Until this time he had exhibited a dis !
like, rather than partisiity, for Paul |
Malerson; for in truth there was more to |
dislike than to like in the character OF the |
youth-for he was wild, reckless, i'll gov
erned and none too honorable in his ways. |
But he had for his wife's sake-to whom